Painful big toe

I had 6 cycles of Chemo August to December last year along with Phesgo after a diagnosis of Stage 4 breast cancer metastasised to my spine. The Phesgo has continued and since September this year I have been struggling with an extremely painful ( and I don't use that term lightly) big toe on my right foot and I have peripheral neuropathy in my feet and hands generally. I am prescribed slow release 40mg of Morphine twice a day and 900g of Gabapentin 3 times a day for pain along with other meds and supplementary ormorph and paracetamol but it doesn't help my toe and the pain is so bad I can't walk easily and can only suffer one pair of loose fitting shoes or toeless sandals if I go out. I have seen my GP, the podiatrist and a private podiatrist, thinking it was an ingrown toenail after the nails had all fallen off and started growing back again after Chemo. 

This week my GP agreed on a blood test for Uric acid to rule out Gout.

I have tolerated the pain of fractured ribs and several fractures in my pelvis in the last year, so I can cope with pain but this is bad and it has gone on so long.

The tip of my toe is particularly sensitive so I can hardly bear my sock or the duvet at night touching it. Any pressure however slight makes me feel faint.

I'm so distraught. I am beginning to give up. No one seems to be able to offer me any explanation, let alone a solution. 

Is it caused by chemo or Phesgo? Is there a test an/or any treatment that can help? Would I need to stop treatment? I'm concerned it could be cancer in my toe?

Please help.

Parents
  • Hello Hawkhead

    If your big toe is also red and swollen you are describing the classic symptoms of gout. I suffer from this occasionally the pain is excruciating. Your GP will be avle to diagnose this and offer you treatment. An episode of gout usually lasts a week to 10 days before subsiding.

    Ed

Reply
  • Hello Hawkhead

    If your big toe is also red and swollen you are describing the classic symptoms of gout. I suffer from this occasionally the pain is excruciating. Your GP will be avle to diagnose this and offer you treatment. An episode of gout usually lasts a week to 10 days before subsiding.

    Ed

Children
  • Thanks Ed. I've just got the results back and it's not Gout. I was hoping it was because at least I'd have an answer but now im back to square one and don't know what to do next. 

  • Hello Hawkhead sorry to hear your blood test results were not what you had hoped for. At least a diagnosis of gout would have meant you could proceed with treatment to cure it. Dont give up though get back to your cancer care team and press them for further investigation. The two treatments Im on can give bone pain as a side effect but I think it is more likely it is the cancer thats causing it. Wishing that you get the diagnosis you need to proceed with getting the problem and pain sorted.

    Ed